Abstract

Recent distressing trends in climate change, population explosion and deforestation inspired this paper, which completes existing literature by providing empirical justification to hypothetical initiatives on the impact of population growth on forest sustainability in Africa. Using three moment conditions of forest exploitation, the study shows how rural, agricultural and national population growths affect forest-area and agricultural-land. Findings indicate moment conditions of forest exploitation do not explain changes in forest-area and agricultural-land beyond population growth mechanisms. As a policy implication in activities of forest exploitation, a balanced approach is needed to take account of the interests of both rural communities and timber companies.